What to Do After a Hurricane

Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA
Weather Radio for information and instructions. Access may be limited to
some parts of the community, or roads may be blocked.

If you evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is
safe. Local officials on the scene are your best source of information
on accessible areas and passable roads.

Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding, even after
the hurricane or tropical storm has weakened. Hurricanes may stall or
change direction when they make landfall, or they may bring a lot of
rain upriver, causing additional flood hazards for hours or days after
the storm.

Stay away from flood waters. Drive only if absolutely necessary and
avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges. Continue to follow all flood
safety messages. Flood waters may last for days following a hurricane.
If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. When
you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around
you, if you can safely get out of the car, do so immediately and climb
to higher ground. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift
water. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive
through water or people playing in high water. If it is moving swiftly,
even water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet, and two feet can
carry away most automobiles.

If you come upon a barricade, follow detour signs or turn around and
go another way. Barricades are put up by local officials to protect
people from unsafe roads. Driving around them can be a serious risk.

Stay on firm ground. Moving water only six inches deep can sweep you
off your feet. Standing water may be electrically charged from
underground or downed power lines.

Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate.
Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate
danger of further injury. Call for help.

Help a neighbor who may require special assistance - infants,
elderly people and people with disabilities. Elderly people and people
with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for
them or who have large families may need additional assistance in
emergency situations.

Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other
emergency operations, and put you at further risk from the residual
effects of floods, such as contaminated waters, crumbled roads,
landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.

Avoid loose or dangling power lines; immediately report them to the
power company, police, or fire department. Reporting potential hazards
will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing
further hazard and injury.

Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being
returned to service. Call an electrician for advice before using
electricity, which may have received water damage.

Stay out of the building if water remains around the building. Flood
waters often undermine foundations, causing buildings to sink, floors
to crack, or walls to collapse.

When entering buildings, use extreme caution. Hurricane- driven
flood waters may have damaged buildings where you least expect it.
Carefully watch every step you take.

Wear sturdy shoes. The most common injury following a disaster is cut feet.

Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining
buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest,
preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants, and building.

Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases, and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing.

Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a building uninhabitable.

Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines,
flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces or electrical
appliances. Flammable or explosive materials may come from upstream.
Fire is the most frequent hazard following floods.

Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing
noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas,
using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a
neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be
turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or
frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the
electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step
in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician
first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried
before being returned to service.

Check for sewage and water line damage. If you suspect sewage lines
are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes
are damaged, contact the water company, and avoid using water from the
tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters or by
melting ice cubes.

Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes, that may have
come into buildings with the flood waters. Use a stick to poke through
debris. Flood waters flush many animals and snakes out of their homes.

Watch for loose plaster, drywall, and ceilings that could fall.

Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.

Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home.

Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If power was lost, some foods may be spoiled.

Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are
certain it is not contaminated. Hurricane-driven flood waters may have
contaminated public water supplies or wells. Local officials should
advise you on the safety of the drinking water. Undamaged water heaters
or melted ice cubes can provide good sources of fresh drinking water.

Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water
per day) to avoid structural damage. If the water is pumped out
completely in a short period of time, pressure from water on the outside
could cause basement walls to collapse.